| Fluting |
| Bill Van Gilder demonstrates the technique of fluting. |
From "Throwing Clay"
episode DTHC-205 |
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Master potter Bill Van Gilder is making a fluted bowl. So far, using 8 lbs. of clay he's thrown a thick walled bowl. He left the base approximately one-inch thick so he can later trim a tall foot.
1. Fluting (figure A) must be done while the clay is leather hard but still slightly soft and bendable. The consistency of the clay is important: if it's too stiff, the fluting tool will tear the clay.2. Each pull of the fluting tool from the rim to the base of the bowl needs to overlap the previous pull. This technique creates crisp edges on the bowls surface (figure B). 3. Bill sits the bowl on a banding wheel; elevating the bowl gives him a clear view of the flutes. He positions the foot of the bowl just slightly over the edge of the banding wheel so the tool won't hit the wheel as it's pulled through the clay (figure C).
4. The first cut is important. After placing the U-shaped band on top of the rim, Bill cuts slowly down the clay. The wings on the side of the tool keep it from cutting too deeply into the clay. He lines up where each wing meets the band, matching underneath the tool with the last edge of the last cut. No flat surfaces should show between the flutes. Bill works slowly and carefully since bad cuts are nearly impossible to repair. Clay burrs left from the tool will be sanded off later when the bowl has dried stiff-leather hard (figure D) (figure E).
RESOURCES :
Kilns
L & L Kilns
Website: www.hotkilns.com
Clay
Highwater Clays
Website: www.highwaterclays.com
Extruders
American Art Clay Co. Inc. (AMACO)
Website: www.amaco.com
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